Mail-marking machine.



T. G. STODDARD & G. H. BARBOUR.

MAIL MARKING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 17, 1909.

1,046,037. Patented De0.3, 1912.

2 SHBETSSHEET 1.

21.25%. zpamww COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH C0.. WASHINGTON, n. c

T. G. STODDARD 62: G. H. BARBOUR.

' MAIL MARKING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 17, 1909 1,046,037. Patented Dec. 3, 1912.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

coLulgaLl ljyANoanApl-l C0,,WASHINOTON. D. c.,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS G. STODDARD AND GEORGE E. BARBOUR, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, AS- SIGNORS TO THE AMERICAN POSTAL MACHINES COMPANY, OF BOSTON, MASSACHU- SETTS, A CORPORATION OF MAINE.

MAIL-MARKING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 3, 1912.

Application filed. June 17; 1909. Serial No. 502,671.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, THOMAS Gr. SToD DARD and GEORGE H. BARBOUR, citizens of the United States, residing at Boston, in

the county of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and use- I The invention relates to stamp canceling.

and post marking machines.

The object of the invention is to provide a machine of this character, having an improved construction and mode of operation, whereby individual letters may be rapidly separated from a letter pack, presented in succession in proper position to be operated upon by the marking dies of a constantly r0- tating marking roll, and then stacked, and which will enable the machine to operate in a reliable and uniform manner when driven at a high rate of speed.

To this end, the invention comprises the features and combinations hereinafter de scribed and set forth in the claims.

The various features of the invention will be readily understood from an inspection of the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a view of a mail marking machine embodying the various features of the invention in their preferred forms; Fig. 2 is a detailed elevation showing the separating devices at one side of the feed throat; Fig, 3 is a sectional plan view, certain parts being removed; Fig. 4 is a detail view of the holder for the separating finger; Fig. 5 is a sectional view on line 5-5, Fig. 1; Fig. 6 is a detail showing the end of the support upon which the letters are stacked; and Fig. 7 is a sectional detail on line 7-7, Fig. 6.

In the machine shown in the drawings the pack of letters to be operated upon is supported on edge upon a table or base plate 1 between two guide plates 2 and 3. The

forward end of the guide plate 3 forms a front plate 4 which is inclined in the direction of feed of the letters. The front end of the guide plate 2 is also inclined in the direction of feed of the letters, so that a feed throat 5 is formed through which the individual letters pass to the marking devices. The rear portion of the letter pack rests upon a continuously driven belt 6, the upper face of which is flush with the surface of the table 1. By this belt the letter pack is fed forward as individual letters are separated therefrom, and the face of the pack is held against the guide plate 2, whilethe end of the pack is held against the inclined plate 4, so that the letters of the pack are somewhat fanned out or separated. WVhile held in this position by the action of the belt 6 and the cooperating guide plates,

the letters are acted upon by feeding and separating devices which separate individual letters from the face of the pack and advance them in succession into position to be presented to the marking dies.

The feeding devices consist of frictional feeding pads 7 projecting from the periphery or tread of a feed wheel 8, the feeding pads in the construction shown being in the form of two rubber rolls mounted in the rim of the wheel and arranged diametrically opposite each other. The feed wheel is so arranged that the periphery of the wheel projects somewhat through the inclined front portion of the guide plate 2, and the face of the letter pack near its front end rests against the periphery of the wheel. The diameter of the feed wheel is suchthat the space between successive rolls is somewhat greater than the length of the longest letter to be acted upon, so that any letter which may be fed forward by a roll 7 may be marked and delivered from the action of the printing device before the next succeeding roll acts upon the letter pack.

In order to prevent the advance of more than one letter at a time, and thus insure the separation of individual letters from the pack, a yielding separating finger 9 is arranged to extend across the feed throat 5 and to engage the letters above the roll 7. This separating finger in the construction shown consists of a rubber strip secured in a carrier 10 which is mounted upon a vertical pivot stud 11 and is held yieldingly in position with the finger across .the letter path by a spring 12. When a thin letter or letter of ordinary thickness is engaged by one of the feeding rolls 7 and carried forward, the projecting end of the flexible separating finger will yield to allow the pas-- sage of the letter, and will prevent the passage of the next adjacent letter in the letter pack. In order that very thin letters or cards may be retained in a vertical position and held so that the frictional feeding pads or rolls may effectively grip the surface of the letter or card to separate it from the letter pack and feed it forward, means are provided to engage the face of the letter at a point below the feeding pad and press it toward the pad. By providing means for thus engaging the letters, the letters are engaged and pressed toward the feeding pads both above and below the feeding pads, so

that an effective gripping pressure between the feeding pads and letters is secured, even when acting upon very thin letters or cards.

In the construction shown, the device for thus engaging the letters below the feeding pads consists of a finger 13 pivotally mounted at one side of the feed throat and held yieldingly in posit-ion to engage the letters by a spring 14.

In acting upon comparatively thick and heavy mail matter, it is not necessary or of' advantage to press the letter toward the feeding pads by engagement both above and below the feeding pads, and means are therefore provided for moving the letter engaging finger 13 out of the path of unusually thick letters. By this means the friction of this feeding finger upon the letters is relieved when a feeding pad is acting upon a thick and heavy letter, and thus the resist; ance which would be offered to the letter by the engagement of this finger therewith is. eliminated. In the construction shown, the; means for thus moving the finger 13 out of position to engage thick letters consists of a. pin 15 arranged to engage the rear face of. the separating finger carrier 10. IVhen a thick letter is carried past the flexible finger j 9, it acts not only to deflect the flexible finger, but also acts to swing the carrier 10 about it's I pivot. This movement of the carrier, acting I upon the pin 15, swings the finger 13 back away from the letter path, and since the pin 15 is comparatively near to the pivot of the finger 13, a greater movement is imparted to the letter engaging end of the finger 13 than i is imparted to the letter engaging end of the carrier 10, and thus the finger is moved back so that it does not drag upon the surface of the letter.

The forward end of the letter pack as itrests against the inclined plate 4 is engaged by a yielding separating bar 16 which is pivoted at 17, and is held yieldingly against the end of the letter pack by a spring 18. The letter engaging face of the separating bar is serrated, so that the engagement of the bar with the end of the letter pack ends to separate or fan out the letters of the pack.

The serrations or teeth in the face of the yielding bar also cooperate with the feeding pads 7 in securing an effective separation of the individual letters. When a feeding pad or roll strikes the surface of the letter pack, which has been resting against the tread of the wheel, the pack is moved laterally by the feeding pad. This movement of the pack tends to move the ends of the letters along the surface of the serrated bar, and as the bar yields to allow such movement, the teeth act to bend each letter away from the next succeeding letter, and thus loosen and agitate the letters so that they will more readily separate when engaged by the feeding pads.

The printing devices to which the individual letters separated from the pack are presented consist of a marking roller 19 carrying marking dies and a cooperating impression roll 20. The marking roll is continuously rotated, and 'a timing stop 21 is provided to arrest the letters until the marking dies have come into proper relation with the end of the letter, in case the letter has not been advanced by the feeding pad in proper time with. relation to the rotation of the marking dies. The timing stop is secured to a vertical shaft 22, and is held yieldingly in position with its free end across the letter path by a spring 23 connected to an arm 24 which is secured to the lower end of the shaft. This spring acts to hold a screw 25 which is mounted in the arm against an adjustable stop screw 26 on the base plate. The free end of the timing stop extends across the letter path below the feed wheel 8, and lies within a recess formed in the arm 27 which controls the movement of the impression roll toward the marking die. At the time when a letter is fed against the timing stop by one of the feeding pads or rolls 7, the timing stop is locked in fixed position across the letter path by means of a spring supported locking segment 28 rotating with the marking die, and arranged to engage an arm 29 secured to the shaft 22. The timing stop thus forms a rigid abutment against which the front edge of the letter is carried when advanced by one of the feeding pads 7 In running the machine at a high rate of speed, the sudden arrest of the letters by engagement with an unyielding stop would in many instances tear or injure the front edge of the letter. To avoid this, and also to insure the proper arrest and positioning of the letter. when rapidly advanced by thefeeding pads, means is provided for cushioning the blow of the letter against the timing stop. This means in the construction shown consistsof a supplemental timing stop 30 pivoted on the stud 11 and arranged with its free end extending across the letter path in position to be engaged by the front edge of the letter slightly before it reaches the timing stop 21. This supplemental timing stop is arranged so that its free end overlies the feed wheel 8, and it is held yieldingly in position across the letter path by means of a spring 31. When a letter is advanced by one of the feeding pads, its front edge first strikes the supplemental timing stop 30, and this stop yields until the edge of the letter engages the timing stop 21, which at this time is locked in position. The front end of the letter thus first strikes a yielding abutment which will yield somewhat to cushion the blow, and its speed is retarded before it brings up against the rigid stop 21. The letters may therefore be fed at a very high rate of speed, and be arrested at the proper point without danger of injury to the letters.

The letters are fed past the timing stops by means of a clamping foot 32 carried on the marking roll 19 and arranged to clamp a letter against the periphery of the feed wheel and feed it forward in proper time to receive the impression of the marking dies. When a letter is engaged by the clamping foot it is moved laterally against the periphery of the wheel 8, and this lateral movement swings the arm 27 away from the letter path, so that the stop post 33 with which the arm 27 is connected is moved out of nor mal position. This allows the lever 34 which carries the impression roll to move forward and bring the impression roll into position to support the letter during the action of the marking dies. The movements of the impression roll lever 34 are controlled by a cam 36 secured to the marking roll shaft, and engaged by a roll 37 on one end of a lever 38, the other end of which is pivotally connected to the impression roll lever. A second lever 39 is arranged with one end bearing upon the lever 38, and with the other end in position to engagean adjusting screw 4:0 carried by the impression roll lever. A spring 41 acts to hold the pin 40 in engagement with the end of the lever 39, and this spring may yield to allow the impression roll to accommodate itself to the thickness of the letters being operated upon.

The locking segment 28 which operates to lock the rigid timing stop in position during the action of the feeding pads upon the letters is held in position by a comparatively heavy spring 42, which. may yield in case unusual pressure is brought against the timing stop, thus avoiding any injury to the parts under unusual strain.

After the front end of the letter has been carried past the timing stops it is fed forward between the periphery of the feed wheel 8 and the pressure roll 35 which is mounted on a spring operated arm (Fig. 1) and is delivered to the stacking devices. The letters are directed by the pressure roll 35 and feed wheel 8 along the front of a vertical guard plate 43 and into position to be acted upon by a rapidly rotating stacker 4a. The stacker acts to force the letters sidewise, and in a direction approximately at right angles to the path of movement of the letters through the marking devices. The letters are stacked against a stacking plate 45 which is mounted for movement away from the stacking device as the letters are stacked against it, the stacking plate being frictionally maintained in the position to which it is moved by the action of the stacker against the face of the letter stack. The upper face of the table or base plate 1 over which the letters pass is recessed or cut away in front of the stacker tt to form a shoulder t6 which tends to retain the letters in the position to which they are forced by the stacker, and to maintain an open space between the face of the letter stack and the guard plate 43 into which the succeeding letter may pass as it is delivered to the stacker from the marking devices.

In order that the stacking devices may be readily adjusted or set to actupon either short or long letters, two abutments or stop plates 47 and 48 are provided, and these plates are so arranged that they will be engaged by the ends of the letters acted upon by the stacker, and will arrest and determine the advance or endwise movement of the letters across the face of the letter stack. The abutment plate 47 is so mounted that it may be readily swung up out of the path of the letters in case the machine is to be used for operating upon long letters. Vhen the plate 47 is swung up out of the letter path, the advance or endwise movement of the letters will be arrested by the plate 48 which is located at the proper distance in advance of the stacker to insure the proper action of thestacker in stacking long letters. When the machine is to be used upon short letters, the abutment plate 47 is swung down into the letter path, and this plate is located to insure proper action of the stacking device in stacking short letters. By thus providing the two abutment plates, one of which may be swung into and out of the letter path, the operator is enabled to quickly and conveniently adjust the machine for operating on either long or short letters, and the arrest of the letters in the proper position with relation to the stacker is insured without requiring the repeated adjustments necessary when a single stop or abutment plate is employed.

In stacking a large number of short letters which frequently vary considerably in length the stack is liable to become displaced upon the supports along which the stack is moved as successive letters are added to the face of the stack. To insure the retention of the stack of short letters in proper position between the stacking device and the stacking plate 4:5 as the length of the stack increases, a guard plate L9 is provided for engaging the lower edge of the letter stack along the front ends of the letters. In order that this guard plate may be readily re moved from the position where it would interfere with the stacking of long letters, it is preferably secured to a rod 50, and this rod is mounted so that it may be turned to bring the guard plate above the letter support, or may be moved to bring the guard plate into position below the letter support. As shown, the rod 50 upon which the guard plate 49 is secured, is one of the rods forming the letter support, and this rod is provided at its outer end with a thumb nut 51 j by which it may be conveniently turned to bring the guard 49 into active position, as

indicated in full lines in Fig. 7, or to swing the guard into position where it will not interfere with the stacking of long letters, as indicated in dotted lines in said figure. l/Vhen the plate l9 is swung into the full line position in Fig. 7, its further movement is arrested and its position determined by the engagement of a radially projecting pin 52 with a fixed stop pin 53. The stacker plate 45 is recessed at 54: for the passage of the guard plate 49, and the plate is locked against accidental displacement by this recess during the stacking of the letters.

It has been the usual practice to so guide the stacking plates of mail marking machines that they move away from the stacking device during the stacking of the letters in the direction of the thrust of the stacker upon the face of the letters stacked. As the stack of letters between the stacker plate and stacker increases, the forward pressure of the stack toward the stacker also increases, and the rear ends of the letters at the face of the stack tend to crowd forward and close the throat between the face of the stack and the guard plate through which the stacker operates. This tendency increases with the increase in the length of the letter stack, and the rear ends of the letters at the face of the letter stack frequently crowd forward so as to interfere with the proper advance of the letters across the face of the stack and into position to be acted upon by the stacker. In accordance with a further feature of the invention, this objection to the prior constructions is avoided by guiding the stacker plate so that it will move away from the stacker in a direction oblique or inclined to the line of thrust of the stacker. By thus mounting the stacker plate, the base of the letter stack gradually moves to one side of the line of thrust in the direction of the feed of the letters, thus relieving the pressure tending to crowd the front ends of the letters forward, so that the face of the letter stack does not crowd forward at the rear ends of the letters and interfere with the feed of the letters across the face of the stack and into position to be properly acted upon by the stack.

In the construction shown the stacker plate 45 is provided with a sleeve 55 which surrounds a guide rod 56. The rod 56 is one of the rods forming the support upon which the letters are stacked, and this rod, as well as the other rods forming the support, are arranged so that they extend at an angle to the line of thrust of the stacker upon the face of the letter stack. With this construction the stacker plate 45 gradually moves to one side of the line of thrust of the stacker, and if the length of the stack were increased sufficiently, the line of thrust would finally pass beyond the right end of the stacker plate in Fig. 1. It is clear, therefore, that this movement of the stacker plate toward the left in Fig. 1 as it is moved away from the stacker will relieve the pressure tending to force the rear ends of the letters at the face of the stack forward, and that large numbers of letters may be successfully and effectively stacked without danger of injury to the letters or interruption in the operation of the machine.

Having set forth the nature and object of the invention, and specifically described one form of mechanism in which the invention may be embodied, what we claim is l. A mail marking machine, having, in combination, a feed throat through which the letters are fed, a traveling feed pad for feeding letters through the throat, and independently yielding devices for engaging the opposite side of the letters above and below the feeding pad, substantially as described.

2. A mail marking machine, having, in combination, a feed throat, a traveling feed pad for feeding letters through the throat, a yielding separating finger extending across the path of the letters through the feed throat, and an independently yielding finger for engaging the letters below the path of the feed pad and substantially in vertical line with the separating finger, substantially as described.

8. A mail marking machine, having, in

combination, a feed throat through which letters are fed, a traveling feed pad for feeding letters through the throat, a separating finger extending across the feed throat, a letter engaging finger below the path of the feed pad, and means operated by a thick letter for moving the letter engaging finger out of letter engaging position, substantially as described.

4. A mail marking machine, having, in combination, a feed throat through which the letters are fed, a traveling feed pad for feeding letters through the throat, a separating finger extending across the feed throat, a letter engaging finger arranged below the path of the feed pad, and means for moving the letter engaging finger away from the letter path by the movement of the separating finger, substantially as described.

5. A mail marking machine, having, in combination, a feed throat through which the letters are fed, a feed wheel arranged at one side of the throat and provided with feed pads for feeding the letters through the throat, a flexible separating finger extending across the throat, a pivoted carrier in which the finger is mounted, a letter engaging finger, and means between the letter engaging finger and the carrier for moving the finger away from the letter path by the movement of the carrier, substantially as described.

6. A mail marking machine, having, in

combination, a feed throat, a traveling feed pad for feeding letters through the throat, a guide plate opposite the path of the feed pad inclined in the direction of the feed, and a yielding separating bar having a i serrated face projecting beyond the face of the guide plate, substantially as described.

7. A mail marking machine, having, in

combination, a feed throat, a feed wheel at one side of the throat provided with feed v pads, a fixed guide plate at the other side of the throat inclined in the direction of the feed guide, and a yielding separating bar having a serrated face projecting beyond the face of the guide plate, substantially as described.

8. A mail marking machine, having, in

' combination, a feed throat, a traveling feed pad for feeding letters through the throat, a guide plate opposite the path of the feed plate and inclined in the direction of the feed, a pivoted bar having a serrated face substantially parallel with the face of the guide plate, and a spring for yieldingly holding the bar with its face projecting beyond the face of the guide plate, substantially as described.

9. A mail marking machine, having, in combination, a table for supporting a letter pack on edge, two guide plates between which the pack is retained, a traveling feed belt between the plates flush with the table,

a feeding wheel provided with one or more I feed pads, a plate at the front of one of the guide plates opposite the feed wheel and inclined in the direction of the feed to form a feed throat, and a separating finger extending across the feed throat, substantially as described.

10. A mail marking machine, having, in combination, a letter supporting table 1, a guide plate 2, a feed wheel 8 provided with feed pads 7, a guide plate 3 having an inclined front plate 4, and a separating finger 9, substantially as described.

11. A mail marking machine, having, in

combination, a marking die, a feed wheel provided with a frictional feeding pad for engaging the side of a letter, and a timing stop for arresting the letters advanced by the feeding pad having provision for cushioning the blow against the stop, substantially as described.

12. A mail marking machine, having, in combination, a marking die, letter feeding devices, a substantially rigid timing stop, and a supplemental yielding stop arranged slightly back of and above the rigid stop, substantially as described.

13. A mail marking machine, having, in combination, a feed wheel provided with a frictional feeding pad, a timing stop arranged below the path of the pad, a supplemental timing stop arranged above the path of the pad and slightly back of the lower stop, and means for yieldingly holding the upper stop across the letter path, substantially as described.

14. A mail marking machine, having, in combination, marking devices, a stacker to which the letters are delivered from the marking devices, an abutment upon which to arrest the advance of long letters, and a second abutment movable into and out of the letter path and arranged to arrest the advance of a short letter, substantially as described.

15. A mail marking machine, having, in combination, marking devices, a stacker to which the letters are delivered from the marking devices, an abutment plate mounted to swinginto and out of position across the letter path and arranged to cooperate with the stacker in stacking short letters, and a stacking abutment plate arranged to cross the letter path and in position to cooperate with the stacker in stacking long letters, substantially as described.

'16. A mail marking machine, having, in combination, marking devices, a stacker to which the letters are delivered from the marking devices, an abutment arranged to cooperate with the stacker in stacking long letters, an abutment movable into and out of the letter path and arranged to cooperate with the stacker in stacking short letters,

and a guard plate for the front ends of short letters movable into and out of active position, substantially as described.

17. A mail marking machine, having, in combination, marking devices, a stacker to which the letter is delivered from the marking devices, an abutment arranged to 006perate with the stacker in stacking long letters, an abutment arranged to cooperate with the stacker in stacking short letters, a guard plate for the front ends of the stacked short letters, and a letter supporting bar upon which the guard plate is mounted movable to bring the guard plate into position above the letter support or into position below the letter support, substantially the letter support or into position below the 10 as described. letter support, substantially as described.

18. A mail marking machine, having, in In testimony whereof we affix our signacombination, marking devices, a stacker to tures, in presence of two witnesses.

. which the letters are delivered from the THOMAS G. STODDARD. marking devices, a letter support upon GEORGE H. BARBOUR. which the letters are stacked, and a guard WVitnesses: plate for engaging the front ends of the WARREN G. OGDEN, stacked letters movable into position above N. D. MoPHAIL.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five centsieach, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents.

- Washington, D. G. 

